Any employed person would have at some point felt the pressure of work related stress. Any job can become stressful even if you enjoy and love what you do. However you need to identify the level of stress whether it is ‘short term’ or ‘long term’. You may experience pressure to meet a deadline or complete a challenging project but when you experience chronic ‘long term’ stress it can be harmful both physically and emotionally.
From headaches, stomachaches, short temper to anxiety, high blood pressure, insomnia and even depression; prolonged stress can take a toll on your life.
Here’s a brief TO-DO list to deal with work stress effectively:
Respond positively: Instead of attempting to fight stress with unhealthy eating habits, alcohol, smoking or using drugs, make healthy and positive choices when you feel the tension rise. Use healthy alternatives such as exercise, yoga, hobby or simply doing things that make you content and forget work.
Establish boundaries: Do not feel pressured to be available 24 hours. Create boundaries between your work and personal life by having a set of rules. It could be to not-check work mails from home, avoid answering phone calls in the evening or even to not-leave late from office.
Relax: Life is too short to be stressed so take some time to meditate, do deep breathing exercises and enjoy a meal even during work hours.
Take time off: Make it a point to go on a holiday or at least enjoy a couple of days off from work to enjoy time with your friends, family or some quality ‘ME’ time.
